How many false dawns can we have?

[kirky]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: False dawn ?

Originally posted by Jerome
If you could let us know how guest stars Rowan Andrews and Jacob Schuback go that would be most appreciated!

Will do my best.

 

[spindoctor]

McGregor will put in the occasional good show at CHF but a good CHB will be able to shut him down - he doesn't find space well, can be spoiled easily and tends to get into a tangle with other Crows who are going for a mark because he can't position himself properly.

He has schooled Gaspar and Cornes. That says not a lot - Gaspar is a joke now, no confidence and no skills, so that means nothing. And Cornes still plays like a forward, zoning off and finding space which means leaving his opponent free to rack up marks if he is smart enough. McGregor was fine when given the space by Cornes. But a more tight-checking defender will expose McGregor as sorely lacking in forward-line nous. Perrie would be a better bet, because at least he leads well and finds space. He CAN play a forward role.

McGregor plays well at CHB, he plays like a backman and should be left there.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by spindoctor
\
McGregor plays well at CHB, he plays like a backman and should be left there.

Problem is he doesn't generate enough attacking drive from CHB, which Hentschell is far better at. He's more a stopper.

 

[spindoctor]

You make him sound like a diarrhoea medication!

But yes, he doesn't provide as much drive as you might like, which is why I actually think he should be positioned at full-back. That is where we REALLY need a stopper. Put Bassett out on a flank (or drop him), and give McGregor full-back. McGrug is bigger, stronger and more adept than Bassett, and he has shown he can play well on the likes of Tredrea and Lynch in previous years.

Bassett might do well on a second forward, but I would like to see McGrug on the FB line.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by spindoctor
You make him sound like a diarrhoea medication!

But yes, he doesn't provide as much drive as you might like, which is why I actually think he should be positioned at full-back. That is where we REALLY need a stopper. Put Bassett out on a flank (or drop him), and give McGregor full-back. McGrug is bigger, stronger and more adept than Bassett, and he has shown he can play well on the likes of Tredrea and Lynch in previous years.

Bassett might do well on a second forward, but I would like to see McGrug on the FB line.

Don't know why he hasn't been tried at FB.
I did hear that he aerobic capacity is very good, but perhaps his speed of the mark is questionable - wouldn't be good perhaps on a Lloyd.

 

[spindoctor]

No, I think he actually has quite good pace off the mark from memory, one of the best of our KPPs.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by spindoctor
No, I think he actually has quite good pace off the mark from memory, one of the best of our KPPs.

Perhaps he's just needed elswhere at the moment. Certainly don't see him as a premiership CHF, or CHB for the Crows.
Reminds me a lot of Mensch for Geelong - a third tall forward, or defender, thats tradesmanlike, and has the occasional day out.

 

[southozsport.tk]

I can't even begin to describe the disappoinment following last nights 'dismall' performance. But what the hey I'll give it a go:

1) Eastern Park Under 11s, would give the Crows a run for their money last night. We just couldn't pick the ball up at ground level in one clean take. A LOT of work needs to be emphasised on this during the week.

2) Contests around the bloody ground, how many times did we see two Crows players contest a mark against one Bombers player, only for the second Bombers player to gather the crumbs and stream forward with NO pressure.

3) Our Zone defence was woeful, and it reminded me a lot of 2000? when Ayres zone defence was up the gurglar. Heard him on channel Eddie after the game saying after they scored 3 goals due to their zone defence he thought he'd better do something about it. For **** sakes GARRY you DO NOT give away 3 goals, when you have a **** weak team like you did last night.

4) NO SMART! What a joke. From the top of my head Smarty has had Lloyds measure on a number of occasions, and it can be guarnteed that Smarty would put in a better effort than Bock, Hentschel etc etc.

5) Matthew Bode. I reckon Bodey got caught doing Ayresy's Mrs at the start of the season, because he absolutely loathes this bloke. Looks like he may have found a new loathable player though in Kris Massie (Who was easily the Crows 2nd best for the first 3/4 of the match) THE ONLY SAVING GRACE IS THAT AYRES WON'T BE THERE IN 2005, SO THE UNFAIRLY TREATED PLAYERS WILL STAY and play to their full potential in 2005.

NEXT WEEK VS COLLINGWOOD:
Ins: Rutten (Strong body will take 3rd best Collingwood defender, and will give the PIes trouble)
Brent Reilly At least this bloke can actually kick a drop punt over 45 metres accurately and TO ADVANTAGE, unlike some other nimwits in this bloody team.
Rhett Biglands Is he injured or just sent back to Eagles for a run? We need him back desperately.
Nigel Smart Definitely deserves a recall regardless of his form on Monday for South Adelaide. WILL PLAY ON TARRANT!

Outs: Martin Mattner Please go back to Sturt and stay there. He's courageous and tackles well, but once it's one on one with the ball out in front this bloke IS AS SLOW AS THEY COME.

Ben Hudson Looked good in the early matches, but now seems to be struggling a bit. Send him back to North, it'll do him some good.

Matthew BODE He'd be in my starting 21, but because he slept with Ayresy's wife, he'll get dropped after not performing in his minute and a half spell on the field.

Chris Ladhams Looked like a shag on a rock last night. Should have played one more for North Adelaide after missing last week with an ankle injury.

UNFORTUNATELY there are probably four more players who I would have dropped or can see being dropped, problem is there aren't four players who can come in and do any better than them. Massie (Will probably pay from Ayres for sleeping with is daughter), Burton, Perrie (Play him in the right position Gary) and JAmes Gallagher, if they are not dropped this week, can consider themselves very lucky that there is no one to replace them.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by southozsport.tk
...and it can be guarnteed that Smarty would put in a better effort than Bock, Hentschel etc etc.

and how exactly is that going to help the team in the long run?????? We should play these kids and if thats at the expense of Smart so be it.

Chris Ladhams Looked like a shag on a rock last night. Should have played one more for North Adelaide after missing last week with an ankle injury.

I think you better check those facts again because Ladhams did play last week and picked up 30 touches. Ladhams plays his best footy as a HFF or a midfielder. Playing him in a back pocket will not get th ebest out of him.

 

[bigman]

i cannot believe the way that Mattner gets bagged on this board.
How many goals did his opponent get this week or last. He has got pace, height and a decent left foot kick. Give him a number of consecutive games to give him some confidence and then make a call.

Perrie burned us so much last night they should call him "Ash Wednesday". it takes him 5 minutes to kick a ball and 10 minutes if he has to kick the ball across his body. He always picks the wrong option. Trade him with a WA side and pick up a good, classy midfielder which they have in droves.

Burton played a selfish individauls game and should be ashamed of the way he played when he reviews his tape.

Bode is struggling to get a full game, but maybe that is because Ayres realises that one of Adelaide's biggest ever mistakes was letting go our number 12 pick for a player who at best was only a fringe player for the Power. The Power really screwed us here and they are probably still laughing at the bargain buy they got in turn.

Our policy a few years ago to use our early draft picks on hacks like Bode is costing us dearly. So was the lack of fight we displayed over allowing Modra, Rehn, Picione, etc. to leave the club without getting adequate compensation in the form of reasonable draft picks.

Leave the side alone for a few weeks and play people on their form and merit. We cannot have a side of just young players or else the damage done to them by huge losses may have premanent long term effects. If it is aline ball decision between a tried and true fringe footballer and a young player then pump for youth, but do not sacrifice the kids. Every team needs a blend of youth and experience. if a few young guys come into the side let a few of the others go back to the SANFL, particualrly if their forms begins to tail off.

We lost on Friday night because our side was too young and inexperienced and because without Hart, Goodwin and Smart we did not have enough match winners. Our form will continue to be up and down until we can get our better players on the track and we get more game time into a selected number of young players each week.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by bigman
He (Mattner) has got pace, height and a decent left foot kick.

Surely you jest. There is nothing decent about Mattner's kick and disposal in general. How often does he hit targets?????? Not very often. Even when he plays for sturt he burns the ball. Yes he is hard at it, yes he has good pace and yes he is the best tackler in the side BUT that is NOT enough to make an AFL player.

I hope I am proven wrong but I am pretty comfortable with my view on this issue.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by bigman
Bode is struggling to get a full game, but maybe that is because Ayres realises that one of Adelaide's biggest ever mistakes was letting go our number 12 pick for a player who at best was only a fringe player for the Power. The Power really screwed us here and they are probably still laughing at the bargain buy they got in turn.

Um, I'm having a bit of trouble trying to fathom the logic here. Are you saying that if we'd just given up a second or third rounder for Bode, Ayres would be happy to give him more ground time?

I don't really see what one thing has to do with the other.

Our policy a few years ago to use our early draft picks on hacks like Bode is costing us dearly. So was the lack of fight we displayed over allowing Modra, Rehn, Picione, etc. to leave the club without getting adequate compensation in the form of reasonable draft picks.

So we overpaid for Bode, but didn't get adequate compensation for Rehn? We actually gave away for Bode (and Smith) exactly what we got for Rehn!

So there's a bit of a consistency problem here unless you think that an aging injury-weary ruckman is worth a lot more than a young, albeit fringe, midfielder.

 

[bigman]

No what I am saying Dave is that we paid far too much for a player of Bode's class at the time - and that for a time we were not tough enough in our stance when we let people from the club go. I think we got draft pick number 61 or 69 for Lance Piciaone going to Hawthorn for example.

 

[DaveW]

I don't think we got shortchanged with Picioane. Apart from wasting a first-rounder on him in the first place that is. Watching him running around for Hawthorn, well, he's a battler. A fourth rounder was adequate.

Modra, we perhaps could have got more for, given his stature. But as of now he's long since ended his service for Fremantle and we've still got Stenglein as a regular starter.

Rehn, getting a first rounder was pretty good for a guy who, in hindsight, only had two seasons left in him. Did we give that pick away too easily in going for Bode? Probably.

 

[Crow_Magnon]

Mid-sized players too slow

I heard Jason Dunstall on the radio yesterday talking about the Crows. He had some interesting suggestions....mainly about our 6'3 / 6'4" types (McGregor, S.Stevens, Perrie & co.). He mentioned that their pace and agility was a major problem for the team....they are not able to provide run, nor chase down opposition players (how many times did we see McPhee, Bolton, etc., run off from defence and set plays up?). When we see opposition sides score freely, it's more often than not because of this.

More than our midifield woes, I have to agree that this is the crux of our problems. The Crows recruiters need to have a good look at the types they are recruiting in this category....they need to look at athletes moreso than simply mark and kick types!

It would pay Ayres to have a chat to Jason once in a while!

Another key aspect of our loss against Essendon was that they were first in for the ball at most times.....we seemed to simply wait for them to get the ball...and then tried to tackle - mostly in a feeble way (Burton, Bode.....). I actually had to agree with Ayres' bagging of Massie. He did let the side down on three occasions....completely mis-judging spoil attempts and leaving opponents free to run off - each time resulting in scores for Essendon. (Note: Ayres probably should've bagged the entire group, except for Carey IMHO....as they were generally soft, second to the contest and didn't handle the pressure.)

I also agree with some of the other posters here....Smarty should have been brought back in to add a bit of experience to the back line....and because he plays well on LLoyd....and provides something we sadly lack...RUN!

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Re: Mid-sized players too slow

Originally posted by Crow_Magnon
I heard Jason Dunstall on the radio yesterday talking about the Crows. He had some interesting suggestions....mainly about our 6'3 / 6'4" types (McGregor, S.Stevens, Perrie & co.). He mentioned that their pace and agility was a major problem for the team....they are not able to provide run, nor chase down opposition players (how many times did we see McPhee, Bolton, etc., run off from defence and set plays up?). When we see opposition sides score freely, it's more often than not because of this.

Have to agree, but those players are not generally available when our draft pick comes along (because we have traded them).
Everyone says Kennys irreplacable for the Crows, but if I had a choice between Kenny and Bolton, I think Bolton provides so much more attacking options from HB.
We need early draft picks (sounds like a broken record)

 

[Stiffy_18]

Re: Re: Mid-sized players too slow

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
Everyone says Kennys irreplacable for the Crows, but if I had a choice between Kenny and Bolton, I think Bolton provides so much more attacking options from HB.

Yeah but he also gets a bag kicked on him when he stands on quality forwards. I know who I would want to stand Jonathan Brown and it ain't Bolton

 

[spindoctor]

I seem to remember that McGregor has very good pace, the fastest of our KPPS...am I wrong?

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by spindoctor
I seem to remember that McGregor has very good pace, the fastest of our KPPS...am I wrong?

Not sure about pace but I know he is in top half a dozen in aerobic capacity overall. He does have a HUGE engine for a big bloke.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Not sure about pace but I know he is in top half a dozen in aerobic capacity overall. He does have a HUGE engine for a big bloke.

I think his pace isn't too bad, my issue is a good CHB should be providing, not only good defence, but also good offensive drive.
McGregor is good on the former, but not the latter. Thats whats impressed me so far with Hentschell, in that for an ineperienced player he does provide reasonable offensive actions, and his decision making is very good.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
I think his pace isn't too bad, my issue is a good CHB should be providing, not only good defence, but also good offensive drive.
McGregor is good on the former, but not the latter. Thats whats impressed me so far with Hentschell, in that for an ineperienced player he does provide reasonable offensive actions, and his decision making is very good.

McGregor has added another aspect to his game in each of the past 3 seasons. This year his goal was to be more attacking and creative going forward. I went to Kadina for that trial game against Port and McGregor was very good on Tredrea defensively but he also provided rebound from defence.

Now, if you have 2 attacking HBF there is not a great need to have a rebounding CHB. Yes it would help but it will not affect you as much as if you didn't have rebounding HBFs.

The problem with Hentschel ATM is that he can lose his opponent in traffic at times where as Kenny is on him like a glove. I think hentschel will develop this side to his game in time same as McGregor will be a bit more attacking one he is moved to CHB.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
The problem with Hentschel ATM is that he can lose his opponent in traffic at times where as Kenny is on him like a glove. I think hentschel will develop this side to his game in time same as McGregor will be a bit more attacking one he is moved to CHB.

Thinks its more his opponent is losing him.
But Hentschell is not a tight CHB, tends to zone off, and back his judgement, which is good to see the confidence for someone so inexperienced, but he can, and has been carved up by top class forwrds.
Our HB haven't exactly provided that dash of the HB line, although I like Goodwin of there, we are lacking someone of the attacking flair of Smart.
Really really really would like to see Stenglein permanently on a HBF.